To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

While the teachers contract expired last October, the state employment panel has been trying to mediate an agreement since January.

Union sources tell NY1 talks broke down. However, the mayor's office will not confirm that, and neither side will say where the sticking points were.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been pushing more reforms, including tenure reform, which he can do without union approval.

He says any contract would have to put kids first.

"I would blame the governments that have agreed to contracts that are not in the interest of our children," said the mayor. "I don’t blame the unions for asking; that’s not their job to find ways to help. They weren’t elected to run the school systems; they were elected by their members to deal with salary and work conditions and that sort of thing for their members."

The mayor has ruled out raises for teachers, and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein wants to lay off teachers who have been without a job for more than a year. Right now those teachers serve as substitutes, drawing full pay and benefits.

A state fact-finding panel now takes over the contract talks by holding hearings and making recommendations.